2019 Summit for Civil Rights

May 2-3, 2019

A project to rebuild, reinvigorate and reignite a powerful multiracial civil rights movement in America

On May 2-3, 2019, civil rights scholars, economists, leaders and advocates gathered with labor, civic, faith and political leadership in New Brunswick, NJ to forge a renewed agenda for Building One America. Click here to see more Summit Photos.

The Summit for civil rights held at Rutgers University Labor Education Center was an historic gathering of some of America’s most prominent and powerful civil rights leaders. The purpose of this year’s summit was to build scholarly support and a grassroots political consensus around an ambitious agenda for progress in America - one that revisits and restores the priorities and values of the New Deal, the Great Society, and the American Civil Rights Movement.

This year's Summit for Civil Rights was presented by The Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, The Labor Education Action Research Network at Rutgers, The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and Building One America.

The program included presentations and workshops on the power of an emerging multiracial electorate and the social and human costs of racial segregation.

There were workshops, panels and presentations about work on the ground combating segregation in schools, housing and jobs and meaningful and timely discussions on the historic role of multiracial political power in America and the critical importance of black leadership and racial justice as part of any progressive agenda.

The summit concluded with a consensuses to move forward employing leadership training, community organizing, civil rights litigation and to advance a legislative agenda that expands economic opportunity while promoting racial justice through inclusive housing, schools, jobs and infrastructure investments.

The summit was also a celebration of civil rights power and leadership with Majority Whip Congressman James E. Clyburn receiving the Vaults of Opportunity award and three civil rights women presented the Shirley Chisholm Breakthrough Leadership award by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.

The Summit for Civil Rights thanks all of its generous sponsors and partners.